CFO of Genel Energy to Retire

Julian Metherell has informed the board of Directors of Genel Energy plc of his intention to retire from the Company, with effect from the close of the Annual General Meeting on 21st April 2015. Julian Metherell's successor as Chief Financial Officer will be Ben Monaghan, who is currently the Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa oil and gas investment banking at J.P. Morgan. Ben has worked in the oil and gas team at J.P.
Papua LNG Carrier Delivered

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., today announced the delivery of the LNG carrier Papua by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hudong) on January 30. The Papua is the first in a series of four ships to be built by Hudong to provide LNG transportation for the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea and the Gorgon Jansz LNG project in Australia. MOL will operate the Papua under a long-term charter contract for the PNG LNG project operated by ExxonMobil.
2nd WISTA India Forum Receives Strong Support

On 23rd January 2015, the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club saw around a hundred dignified members of the shipping fraternity gather for the second WISTA Annual Forum, an event that lived up to the industry’s expectations. The select crowd included long-term supporters of WISTA India and WISTA members, as well as members who flew down from Delhi, Chennai, Cochin and Bengaluru especially for this conference.
Wreck Removal Convention Inforce From April

The insurance and certification requirements of the Convention on the Removal of Wrecks become effective this April. In this connection, the Danish Maritime Authority has a request for Danish companies and shipowners. All Danish ships of or above 20 GT (gross tonnage) must take out insurance or other financial security to cover the owner’s liability in connection with the removal of wrecks. The ships must not engage in trade at all if such insurance or other financial security is not held.
Freedom of the Seas Revitalized

Re-emerging from a 24-day drydock at Grand Bahama Shipyard, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas returned into service this weekend to offer vacationers one of the best cruise ships for incredible Caribbean’s adventures. The ship showcased its new features to more than 1,700 of the cruise line’s value travel agent partners on an exclusive two-night sailing before embarking on its first regular itinerary on Sunday, Feb.
Funding Only Bright Spot in President’s Budget - AAPA

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the recognized and authoritative voice of the seaport industry, yesterday noted some positive aspects but mostly disappointment over the funding levels and programmatic changes in federal port-related programs that were proposed today in President Obama’s fiscal 2016 budget. “International trade now accounts for fully 30 percent of the U.S. economy,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO.
Obama Requests $204.7M Budget for BSEE
President Obama requested $204.7 million for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in fiscal year 2016 as part of an effort to enable the BSEE…
Hempel to Acquire Jones-Blair Company

Danish-based coating supplier Hempel announced a binding agreement today to acquire Jones-Blair Company. The transaction is expected to close in early March 2015, subject to regulatory approval. Jones-Blair Company, an industrial coating supplier located in Dallas, Texas, serves both oil and gas and construction markets. Hempel's Group President and CEO Pierre-Yves Jullien credited the pending acquisition…
Japanese Shipping Exec Sentenced in US for Price Fixing
An executive of Japan-based Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. (K-Line) pleaded guilty Friday, January 30 and was sentenced to 18 months in a U.S. prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to fix prices…
Boston Harbor Cruises Ferry to Undergo $2.6m Engine Refit

Boston Harbor Cruises’ Provincetown Ferry, the Salacia will be drydocked from January thru March 2015 to undergo a $2.6 million dollar engine refit. Boston Harbor Cruises (BHC) has purchased four MTU 12V4000M64 engines from Stewart & Stevenson. The engines, manufactured by Rolls Royce Power Systems subsidiary MTU, and assembled in Friedrichshafen, Germany, have been completed and successfully tested and are currently on a container ship headed for Boston.
Chevron Names Ourada Corporate VP and Comptroller
Chevron Corporation today named Jeanette L. Ourada as their new corporate vice president and comptroller effective April 1. Ourada succeeds Matthew J. Foehr, who…
Fishing Vessel Captain Medevaced Near Venice

The captain of a fishing vessel was medevaced near Venice, Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) reported. Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans Command Center received a call from a crewmember aboard the vessel stating the captain had reportedly sustained a head injury, around 6:43 a.m. A Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and a Coast Guard Station Venice small boat crew were directed to launch and arrived on scene at 8:40 a.m.
Gondan to Build Three Tugs for Østensjø Rederi

Gondan Shipyard has signed a new contract with the Norwegian shipowner Østensjø Rederi AS for the construction of three tugboats that will join its fleet in Melkøya terminal of the Norwegian oil company Statoil. These three new escort tugs will operate in icy environments of up to -20º C, what means a demanding design and quality construction to protect crew and equipment from the weather. They are designed by the Canadian naval architectural firm Robert Allan Ltd.
Research Shows Iron's Long Ocean Journey

A new study led by scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) points to the deep ocean as a major source of dissolved iron in the central Pacific Ocean. Researchers found that iron can travel long distances, highlighting the vital role ocean mixing plays in determining whether deep sources of iron reach the surface-dwelling life that need it to survive. Iron is readily soluble in low oxygen regions at hydrothermal vent sites and along continental margins…
New Budget Backs SC Ports Strategic Initiatives

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) FY 2016 budget contained approximately $20 million for strategic South Carolina port projects, including critical operations and maintenance dollars and construction dollars that support Charleston's vital shipping channels. These recommendations exceed last year's totals by $5 million. "This budget highlights the valuable role South Carolina plays in the global marketplace…
Ghana Orders Emergency Barges to Address Power Crisis
Ghana has ordered a small fleet of emergency barges with the capacity to generate up to a total of 1,000 megawatts of electricity to address a worsening power crisis, the government said on Monday.
CNR to Ship Coal Via Public Colombia Port
Goldman Sachs mining affiliate CNR has reached a deal with a public port in Colombia to load its coal shipments which have been suspended for a year after its own…
Zamakona to Offer GS-Hydro Hydraulic Services

GS-Hydro has reached an agreement with Zamakona Yards to include its hydraulic services in the range of services offered by the Zamakona in the Canary Islands. Marking the new partnership, a presentation ceremony was held January 29 in the Las Palmas Port. In attendance were the President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Luis Ibarra; Zamakona Yards´ CEO in the Canary Islands, Álvaro Garaygordobil…
Northrop Grumman to Deliver Navy LCS Mission Packages
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) has received a $21.6 million contract from the U.S. Navy for two additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) mission packages As the mission package integrator…
Baltic Index Continues Slide as Rates Drop
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, continued its slide on Monday, hitting a new near-three…